O'Malley may get Democratic challengers
Gadi Dechter is reporting this story, which is running in Thursday's print editions of the Baltimore Sun:
George W. Owings III, a former Democratic delegate and party leader from Calvert County, is “actively considering a challenge” to Gov. Martin O’Malley in next year’s election, the former majority leader told The Baltimore Sun.
The 64-year-old Vietnam war hero from Dunkirk, who served on Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.’s cabinet, said he was “45 to 60 days” away from deciding whether to challenge O’Malley in the 2010 Democratic primary. He acknowledged that the odds of anyone unseating the incumbent governor “are very long.”
Rick Abbruzzese, a spokesman for O’Malley said the governor would not be distracted by election talk. “There will be a lot of speculation in the coming months about who may or may not run for governor,” Abbruzzese said. “In the meantime, Gov. O’Malley will continue to fight for policies that put our families first.”
Matthew P. Crenson, a retired Johns Hopkins University political scientist and long-time observer of Maryland politics, said stirrings of internal dissent show “there is diffuse dissatisfaction with O’Malley” but said the cause could be the dismal economy, not O’Malley policies. “It’s not necessarily O’Malley’s fault,” Crenson said.
After serving in the House of Delegates from 1988 to 2004, Owings was Ehrlich’s secretary of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs. A conservative Democrat, Owings said he believes the state party has “strayed from its working class roots” under O’Malley’s leadership.
The former mortgage banker said he began mulling a challenge after the governor pushed unpopular tax hikes through the General Assembly in 2007 in order to confront the massive structural budget deficit he inherited.
“I see a lot of good, solid working-class Democrats with serious concerns about the direction we are taking,” Owings said. He said he has “the mechanics in place” for an organized campaign, including “some guarantees of operating money” from a “loosely knit financing committee.”
Separately, Annapolis has been buzzing with speculation that former Prince George’s County Executive Wayne K. Curry may also be thinking of taking on O’Malley in the primary. Two people familiar with Curry’s thinking told The Baltimore Sun that he was preparing a poll to test the viability of his candidacy, and would only then make a decision.
Curry did not return requests for comment.
“Even if they’re not true, the fact that there are so many rumors suggests that O’Malley is perceived as vulnerable,” Crenson said.
Comments
Elba at 250 Pratt is sending this Ehrlich crony out on a suicide mission? Why doesn't Ehrlich be a man for once and comment about Pappas?
Posted by: Chum | May 7, 2009 8:59 AM
The chances of another Dem knocking off OMalley, I think, are slim to none. Let's face it, love him or hate him, nobody campaigns like OMalley. Image, style, personality trump issues every time in politics.
Posted by: Thorvald | May 7, 2009 9:04 AM
“there is diffuse dissatisfaction with O’Malley” but said the cause could be the dismal economy, not O’Malley policies. “It’s not necessarily O’Malley’s fault,”
Matt Crenson should pull his head out of the sand, or anyplace else the sun isn't shining. I've never seen this level of dissatisfaction with ANY Maryland governor. To state that it’s not O'Malley's fault is laughable. Next time, the Sun should quote an objective political observer, not an apparent shill for the Guv.
Posted by: MDR | May 7, 2009 9:10 AM
David,
I'm shocked to see a blog on possbile dissent amongst MD Democratic party. I thought that only occurred in the Republican party (MD & National)
All kidding aside it was my impression all Dems were smitten with Governor O'Malley. What else are you hearing? Will there be a follow up blog/piece?
Posted by: Waiting for the Sun to Set | May 7, 2009 12:53 PM
Waiting, maybe you missed these well-reported Dem disagreement in recent history (and off the top of my head with no research:
Miller vs. Busch on slots
Schaffer vs. Glendenning
Shaffer vs. many Dems after he endorsed the elder Buch for president
Mickey Steinberg vs. (i think) Steve Sachs over abortion
The dems aren't always one big happy family either.
Posted by: Edd | May 7, 2009 1:56 PM
Owings and Curry were Ehrlich backers. DINOs.
Posted by: Chum | May 7, 2009 2:13 PM
Well, this news follows the Gazette's earlier reporting that Jack Johnson was keeping "all options open" and refused to answer a question about challenging Gov. O'Malley.
And what's Doug Duncan up to? He was a class act guy. I really felt bad for him and liked him a lot despite disagreeing politically.
And there was some talk about Rushern Baker...but I think he would be happier to back Johnson in return for a Johnson endorsement.
Posted by: Jameson | May 7, 2009 11:31 PM
Hi Edd,
Thanks for the reply. Yep, I remember those disagreements. The first half of my comment was a not so subtle sarcastic commentary on the Sun's focus on issues within the Rep party in a state that is dominated by the Dem party.
However the second half of comment stands unanswered. The article/blog suggests not all Dems are happy with O'Malley leadership. This is a very different message than normally published by the Sun.
Is there dissent within the party over O'Malley's leadership?
Posted by: Waiting for the Sun to Set | May 8, 2009 8:39 AM